Toy



Oct. 5, 1937. c. A; PRIDHAM 2,094,618

l TOY Filed April 11, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 f/ y@ la f2-1.55

| L. Zff@ FJ v j/ 26 30 @2,0 fg M INVENTOR 62%??? dfrzi'a BY J f ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1937. c. A.- PRIDHAM TOY Filed April l1, 1956 2 sneetsfsh'eet 2 ATTO Nl@ Patented Oct. 5,1937Y fuNirso STATES PATENT orgies TOY v Chester A. Pridham, Chatham, N. J.

.application April 11,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in toys.

One of theobjects of my invention is to provide an improved construction for a toy embodying an overhead travelling carriage and which is adapted particularly for carrying material from one point to another and dumping it, and in which provision is made for controlling the various movements from a single remote point, in cluding the action of dumping the load at the desired place.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved toy of the character referred to which is simple and rugged in construction, reliable in operation, and which can be made up for sale in the form of a kit and readily installed at any convenient place.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved toy of the character referred to in which all of the required `movements or'actions for picking up material, transporting it from one point to anothenand dumping the load, can be controlled conveniently from a portable control unit which can be moved to different positions without disturbing the rigging.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved toy of the character referred to which is educational and instructive, and whose operation can be readily understood and performed by children.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings, wherein y Y Figure l is a simplied, elevational'view, partly in perspective, of a toy constructed and operating in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View, the section being taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the control unit, partly broken away and looking toward the right in Fig. l; f

Fig, 4 isV an elevational View, partly broken away and looking toward the right in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing the manner of using a scoop `bucket for conveying the material; f

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail View, `partly' in sec-V tion, showing the means andY method used for conveying sticks of wood and the like and dumping such a load; Y Y Y Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 5, respectively, showing a modication;

1936, serial-N0. 73.818

Fig. 10 is'an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 9; f

Fig. v11 is an enlarged detail View showing'a form of a grab bucket and the manner of using the same;

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11, partly broken away, showing the bucket in Fig. 11 opened to discharge the load; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional View, the section being taken on the line E3-i3 in Fig. 12.

With reference to Fig. 1, the referencenumeral l designates a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriagev provided with trolleys .IVI for running along a track comprising a steel wire l2 stretched between the fixed points i3 and i4.

A part in the form of a pulley block l of conventional design is suspended from the carriage lll by a lift line l t fixed at one end thereof to this block at l l. As shown, the line l5 passes around the pulley i8 of the pulley block and around the pulleys I9 and20 xed to the underside of the carriage I0, and thence around a xed pulley 2l` to a spool 22 which may be rotated by turning a crank 23. Y

For the purpose of causing travel of the carriage Il! along'theV track |2,"a line 24 is xed` at one end thereof to the carriage at the point 25 and extends around a xed pulley 2t and thence around a xed pulley 2l to a Vspool 28 which may be rotated by turning a crank 2S.

A trip line 3l) carries at one end thereof a hook 3l and passes through an eyelet 32 with which the pulley block is provided, through an eyelet 33 with which .the carriage is provided, around a xed pulley 34and thence to a spool 35 supported at its ends by elastic bands 36. These elastic bands are stretched and twisted, as represented, and are xed to the sides 3l of a box 38 for supporting and containing the various control parts as a portable unit.

The spools 22 and 28' are, as shown, rotatably supported by the top 39 of the box, which is providedv withan opening 40 through which the trip line 30 passes.

The spool 22 is held against rotation by a friction brake element 4l pivotally mounted at 42 and held pressed against the spool by a spring 43. The spool 28 is held against rotation by a similar friction brake element 44 pivotally mounted at 45 and held in engagement with this spool by a spring 455. f l

In Figpl the apparatus is shown in use with a grab bucket comprising complementary parts` 41 and 48 pivotally connected together at their respective adjacent corners by a relatively stiff wire 49 which is bent around at its center to form an eyelet 55 to receive a lift book 5| with which the pulley block is provided. A flexible member in the form of a coil spring 52 extends across the wire 4Q and is connected at its ends to the parts il and 48, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. In operation, the trip hook 3| is hooked about the spring 52, as shown.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the carriage I can be caused to travel along the track I2 to the right by rotating the crank 29 to wind up the travel line 24 on the spool 28. By

rotating the spool 28 in the opposite direction to pay out the travel line 24, the carriage III travels to the left along the track |2 by reason of the force provided by the weight of the pulley block l5. While this weight is suiiicient for this purpose, the weight of the bucket or other carrying device, as well as any load which is being transported at the time', adds an additional force to cause this movement. This force isV generally suflicient to cause lefthand movement of the carriage li! along the track by merely releasing the brake 44 to permit free rotation of the spool 28 to pay out the line 24.

The pulley block and its load is raised by turning the crank 23 to wind up the lift line I6 on the spool 22. Lowering of the pulley block and its load, due to the weight of the parts, can be caused by merely releasing the brake element 4| to permit rotation of the spool 22 to pay out the lift line I6. Assuming that the parts are in the full-line position shown in Fig. 1, the load can be carried to the dash-line position shown by ro tating the cranks 23 and 29 in the proper directions` either successively or simultaneously, after which the load can be dumped by pulling in on the trip line 30 to cause pivotal movement of the bucket parts with respect to each other, as shown.

The tension of the springs 43 and 45 is not such as to prevent turning of the cranks` 23 and 29 as might be required, but is sufcient to hold the spools 22 and 28 against rotation when the cranks are released.

By turning the crank 23 to wind in on the lift line I6 until the pulley block is raised to engage the carriage |l, and continuing this rotation, the carriage is cause-d to move to the left along the track |2, during which time the spool 28 is rotated to pay out the line 24. The lefthand movement of the carriage is therefore caused either by turning the crank 2S only or by turning the crank 23 only in the proper direction, as expla-ined.

An important featurel of my improved construction resides in the means for keeping the trip line 30 taut irrespective of any movements of the carriage IB or the pulley block l which might take place. This means comprises the spool 35 mounted as explained. That is, the arrangement is such that as the pulley block and its load is raise-d, or as the carriage I9 moves to the left, the spool 35 is` rotated to take up on the lift line 39 by reason of the stretch and twist of the elastic bands 35. As the pulley block and its load is lowered, or as the carriage moves to the right, the spool 35 is free to rotate to pay out the trip line 30, during which rotation the twist and stretch of the elastic bands 36 vare increased.

In using the grab bucket 4l, 48 to handle sand, for example, it is lowered on the material and the lift line IS paid out to make this line a little slack. The trip line 3G is then drawn in at the control unit 38 to open the bucket and raise it over Ythe load, after which the trip line is released to permit the bucket to drop and the buck- 'et parts to grab into the sand. The crank 23 is then turned to raise the pulley block which causes the bucket parts to close and pick upsome of the material. When the load has been moved to the desired point, it is dumped by pulling in on the trip line 3|] as explained.

In using the scoop bucket 54 shown in Fig. 6, it is hung from the lift hook 5i as shown, and the lift hook 3| hooked into an eyelet 55 with which thisy bucket is provided at the bottom thereof. By proper manipulation of the cranks 23 and 29 and the trip line 3U, as will be well understood, a load can be picked up by the bucket 54 and then transported to the desired point. By then pulling in on the trip line, the bucket is tilted to the dash-line position as shown to dump the load.

In handling sticks or wood and the like, a chain 56 provided at one end thereof with a ring 57 is attached to the lift hook 5| by this ring. The other end of the chain is provided with a hook 58 and is placed about the load and the hook 58 caught about the chain as shown. The lift hook 3| is then caught about the hook 58. When the load has been moved to the desired point, the trip line 35 is pulled in slightly to disengage the hook 58 from the chain, whereupon the load is released. The trip line is then paid out until the hook 3| is disengaged from the hook 58, after which this line is released to permit the spool 35 to wind it in until the hook 3| catches in the eyelet 32 with which the pulley block is provided and through which the trip line passes.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9,

the various partsY are designated by the same reference numerals, but with the suffix a, as the respective and corresponding parts in Figs. 3, il and 5. In Figs. 8 and 9, the cranks 23a and 29a are separately mounted, as shown, and are geared to the spools 22a. and 28a, by gears Sii, 5|, and 55. A gear 54 is fixed on a crank 55 which is journaled in a bracket 55 and is movable longitudinally to place the gear 64 into or out of mesh with the gears Ei and 83. A spring 5i, compressed between the bracket 55 and a collar 58 xed on this crank, operates to move the latter to the full-line position shown whereat the gear 54 is out of mesh with the gears 5| and 53. The arrangement and relation of the various parts are such that by moving the gear into mesh with the gears 5| and 53, and then by turning the crank 65'only, the spools 22a and are caused t0 rotate simultaneously to move 1the carriage '|13 along its track and also to pay out or take in on the lift line la, as the case might be, so that the pulley block and its load moves substantially parallel to the track l2. When the crank 55 is released the gear 55 is moved out-of mesh with the gears 6| and 53 by the spring 61.

Brake elements Ma and 44a, corresponding to, and operating in the same manner as the elements 4| and lli respectively in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are pivotally mounted at 42a and 45a and are spring-biased to rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows to engage the gears 53 and Gi. The ends ilb and lilib of the elements lia and 44a are shaped and disposed as more clearly shown in Fig. 10, in front of a collar 59 with which the crank 55 is provided. When the crank E5 is pushed forward, therefore, both brakes la and 44a are released automatically as the gear 64 starts to mesh with the gears El and 63.

With the gear 54 out of mesh with the gears 6| the cranks 23a, 29a and 55 to the vspools 22dV and 23a.

For the purpose ofguiding the travelv and lift line in Figs.' 3, 4 and 5, idler pulleys 'l0 and ll are used as shown, and are attached to the top 39 of the control unit by swivel connections of a conventional construction. Similar pulleys 10c and Ila are used in the same manner and for'the same purpose in the construction shown Y in Figs. 8. and 9.

The grab bucket shown in Figs. l1, 12 and 13 lcomprises the two complementary parts 12 and '13. Members M are connected rigidly to the part lf2, and similar members 'l5 are connected rigidly to the part '13. A weight 16 is disposed between the overlappingadjacent ends'of the members M and 'l5 which are pivotally connected by a pin 'l1 which extends loosely through the weight lt. Thelweight 'l is provided with an eyelet 18 by which thebucket is suspended from the lift hook l of the pulley block.

A iiexible memberV 19, Vwhich may be a cord, chain or the like, vis connected at its ends to the bucket parts l2 and 13. VIn using this bucket, the trip hook 3| is placed around the flexible member 19.

In using this bucket, it is placed over the material to be picked up, and the trip line 30 is pulled in to open the bucket, as shown in Figs. 12 and i3. The pulley block is then lowered to place theV open bucket on the material, after which the trip line is released. The pulley block is then raised, which actioncauses pivotal movement of the bucket parts 'l2 and 13 together about the pin 'H las the center. As the bucket parts are caused to move together in this manner, they grab into the material and pick up a load. The edge 8f3 of the `bucket part 'l2 may `be offset slightly as shown so-l that when the bucket parts are together it overlaps thecomplementary edge 8i of the bucket part82 to, prevent material such as sand from leaking out between these edges of the bucket parts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by reason of the arrangement and combination of the parts, and the manner of rigging the various control lines with respect thereto, and supporting the control ends of these lines fromY a common support, the control unit 38 is provided which is portable and can be moved to different positions without disturbing the `rigging or making necessary any changes in, thev various connections.V to be the first to provideV a toy ofthe character described embodying an overheadVV carriage and a pulley block suspended therefrom, in which' there is a unit which can be moved to diierent positions without interfering with the rigging Vand from which all movements and operations of the various parts can be controlled..v

It will be understoodthat various changes and modifications other Vthan those described herein,

can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

I'claim as my invention; 1. In a toy of the character described, a part In this connection,-I believe myself inthe form fof a pulley block, 'a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriage for said block,

a track elementfor said carriage, a travel line anda lift line and a trip line, said lift line being Arigged to said parts and having one of its ends xed to'one of said parts, a first spool for paying outj ortaking-insaid lift line to lower or raise saidblock with respect to said carriage, onesend of said travel line being fixed to said carriage, a second spool for paying out or taking in said travel line to cause said carriage to travel backand forth along said track element,

. said trip linebeing rigged to said carriage, means for keeping said trip line relatively .taut irrespective of movement of said carriage in either direction along said track and comprising a third spool and yieldablef'means urging said third :spool for rotation in one direction, and means forl rotating said rst and second spools the weight of said pulley block and its associated parts being sufiicientto impart movement to said carriage towardV the control-end of the rigging when said travel line is paid out.

2. In atoy ofthe character described, a part in the form of a pulley block, a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriage for said block, a track element'for said carriage, a travel line 'and a'lift line and av trip line, said lift line being rigged to said parts and having one of its ends xed to one of said parts, a first spool for paying out or taking in said lift line to lower or raise said blockLwith respect to said carriage, one end of said travel line being xed to said carriage, a second spool for paying out or taking in said travel line to cause said Carriage to travel back and forth: along said track element, said tripline being rigged to said carriage, means for keeping said trip line relativelyy taut irrespective of movement of 'said carriage in either direction along said tra-ck and comprising a third spool and yield- Vable means urging said third spool for rotation in `the direction to take in on said trip line, means for rotating said first and secondI spools, and portable means common with respect to said three spools forsupp'orting the ksame and moveable bodily as a'unit whereby the respective movements of. said carriage and pulley block and said trip line can* be remotely zand selectively controlled fromdiierent positions said spool and said yieldable means being entirely concealed within said portable'meansx v 3. Ina toy of the character described, a part in the form of a pulley block, a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriage for said block,

a track element for saidl carriage, a travel line and a lift line and a trip line, said lift line being rigged to said parts and having one of its ends fixed to one of Vsaid parts, a first spool for paying outY or taking in ,said lift line to lower or raise said block with respect to said carriage, one end of said travel line being fixed to Said carriage,

a second spool for paying out or taking in said travel line to cause said carriage to travel back t ment yas-a unit whereby the respective movements of said carriage and'pulleyv block and said trip v spools for supporting the same for bodily move- Y (il) line can be remotely and selectively controlled from different positions, the Weight of said pulley block and its associated parts being sufficient to impart movement to -said carriage toward the control-end of the rigging when said second spool is rotated to pay out said travel line.

4. In a toy of the character described, a part in the form oi a pulley block, a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriage for said block, a track element for said carriage, a travel line and a lift line and a trip line, said lift line being rigged to said parts and having one of its ends iixed to one of said parts, a first spool for paying out or taking in said lift line to lower or raise said block `with respect to said carriage, said travel line being rigged with respect to said carriage and arranged when paid out or taken in on one side of said carriage to cause said carriage to travel back and forth along said track element, means for keeping said trip line relatively taut irrespective of any movements of said parts and comprising a second spool and yieldable means for urging rotation of said second spool in the direction to take in on said trip line, and portable means disposed at one end of said track and being common with respect to said spools for supporting the same for bodily movement as a unit whereby the respective movements of said carriage and pulley block and said trip line can be remotely and selectively controlled from different positions, the weight of said pulley block and its associated parts being suiiicient to impart movement to said carriage toward the controlend of the rigging when said travel line is p-aid out.

5. A toy comprising a part in the form of a pulley block, a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriage for said block, a. track element -for saidcarriage, a travel line and a lift line and a trip line, said lift line being rigged tosaid parts and having one of its ends Xed to one of said parts, means for paying out or taking in said lift line to lower or raise said block with respect to said carriage, said travel line being rigged with respect to said carriage and arranged'when paid out or taken in on one side of saidY carriage tocause the same to travel back and forth along said track elementymeans for keeping said trip line relatively taut irrespective of any movements of said parts, a bucket comprising complementary parts, means pivotally connecting said parts, said bucket-being suspended from said pulley block by said connecting means, and a flexible element connected at its ends to the respective upper edges of said bucket parts, said trip line being provided at one end thereof with a hook placed about said iieXible element, the weight of said pulley block and its associated parts being sufcient to impart movement to said carriage toward the controlend of the rigging when said travel line is paid out.

6. In a toy of the character described, a part in the' form of a pulley block, a part in the forni Y of a supporting overhead carriage for said block, a track element for said carriage, a travel line and a lift line and a trip line, said lift line being rigged to said parts and having one of its ends fixed to one of said parts, a iirst spool for paying out or taking in said lift line to lower or raise said block with respect to said cariage, said travel line being rigged with respect to said carriage and arranged when paid out or taken in one side of said carriage to cause said carriage to travel back and forth along said track element, means for keeping said Vtrip line relatively taut irrespective of any movements of Vsaid parts and comprising a second spool and yieldable means for urging rotation of said second spool in the direction to take in on said trip line, portable means disposed at one end of said track and being common with respect to said spools for supporting the same for bodily movement as a unit whereby the respective movements of said carriage and pulley block and said trip vline can be remotely and selectively controlled from different positions, a bucket comprising complementary parts pivotally connected together and suspended from said pulley block, and means associated with said bucket for causing the same to open, one end of said trip line being provided with a means engaging said bucket-opening means for operating the same.

'7. In a toy of the character described, a part in the form of a pulley block, a part in the form of a supporting overhead carriage for said block, a track element for said carriage, a travel line and a lift line and a trip line, said lift line being rigged to said parts and having one of its ends xed to one of said parts, a iirst spool for paying out or taking in said lift line to lower or raise said block with respect to said carriage, one end of said travel line being fixed to said carriage, a second spool for paying out or taking in said travel line to cause said carriage to travel back and forth along said track element, said trip line being rigged to said carriage, means for keeping said trip line relatively taut irrespective of any movements of said parts and comprising a third sp-ool and yieldable means urging said third spool for rotation in the direction to take in on said trip line, means for rotating said iirst and second spools, portable means common with respect to said three spools for supporting the same and moveable bodily as a unit whereby the respective movements of said carriage and pulley block and said trip line can be remotely and selectively controlled from different positions, and yieldable braking elements associated respectively with said first and second spools for holding the saine against rotation, the weight oi said pulley block and its associated parts being suicient to impart movement to said carriage toward the control-end of the rigging when said travel line is paid out.

8. In a toy of the character described, a part in the form of a pulley block, a part in the form oi a supporting overhead carriage for said block, a track element for said carriage, a travel line and a lift line and a trip line, said lift line being rigged to said parts and having one of its ends xed to one of said parts, a rst spool for paying out or taking in said lift line to lower or raise said block with respect to said carriage, a second spool for paying out or taking in said travel line to cause said carriage totravel back and forth along said track element, said trip line being rigged to said carriage, means for keeping said trip line relatively taut irrespective oi movement of said carriage in either direction along said track and comprising a third spool and yieldable means urging said third spool for rotation in one direction, and means moveable to one position and operable in said position to rotate said first and second spools simultaneously and moveable to another position to permit rotation of said spools independently of each other, the weight of said pulley block and its associated parts being suicient to impart movement to said carriage toward the control-end of the rigging when said travel line is paid out.

9. A toy comprising a part in the form of a out or taken in' one side of the carriage to cause the same to travel back and forth along said track element and means for keeping said travel line relatively taut irrespective of any movements of Vsaid parts, said last mentioned 5 means comprising a spool suspended between two twisted elastic bands.

CHESTER A. PRIDHAM. 

